Rich Caramel Slices Food

CARAMEL SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch square pan with baking or parchment paper, ensuring two sides overhang (this will make it easier to remove the slice later).
• In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, flour and coconut. Whisk to combine. Add melted butter and stir until moist. Mixture should resemble wet sand.
• Place mixture into baking pan and press down to form one even layer. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until the crust is slightly golden on the edges. Remove from oven and set aside while you make the caramel.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, add sweetened condensed milk, butter and syrup (if using). Place on a medium heat and stir constantly until the butter melts. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until caramel turns golden brown and thickens slightly. This takes at least 10 minutes so be patient!
• Once caramel has thickened, remove from heat and stir in a pinch of salt. Pour over shortbread crust. Then bake for another 12 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. Leave to cool for 30 minutes (sprinkle over extra sea salt if you like) before adding chocolate topping.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Once chocolate is melted and smooth, add oil and stir. Then pour over caramel layer. Spread out into one even layer and then place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to cool and set.
• When you're ready to serve, carefully lift slice out of baking tin and cut into small squares. If it's too hard to cut (for example, if you left it in the fridge overnight), just let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes or so and it will soften slightly.

CARAMEL SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (fan 160°C)
• Grease and line a 28x 18cm (lamington pan) / 7" x 11" rectangle pan with baking/parchment paper (Note 2). Have overhang for ease of removal.
• Mix together Base ingredients and press into a pan (I use an egg flip)
• Bake for 15 minutes until the surface is golden. Cool in fridge if you have time (Note 3).
• Lower oven to oven to 160°C/320°F (fan 140°C)
• Place butter, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan over medium low heat. When the butter is melted, whisk to combine with sugar, then just leave it until it comes to a simmer.
• When bubbles appear, add condensed milk. Whisk constantly for 5 minutes (Note 4), until you start getting some big slow bubbles on the base.
• Once bubbles start appearing, whisk for 1 minute, then pour onto Base. Tilt pan to spread evenly.
• Bake for 12 minutes. Don't worry if you get splotchy brown bits (this happens with ovens that don't distribute heat evenly).
• Cool on counter for 20 minutes then refrigerate 30 minutes - bottom of pan should be warm but surface cool (not cold) to touch. (Note 5)
• Place chocolate and oil in a microwave proof bowl. Microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until chocolate is fully melted (takes me 4 x 30 sec).
• Pour over caramel, spread with spatula. Then gently shake pan to make the surface completely flat.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Remove from fridge and leave out for 5 minutes to take chill out of chocolate slightly. Then cut into bars or squares to serve!

EASY MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly grease and line a 20-22cm square or rectangular baking tin with a lip of at least 3cm.
• To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.
• Prick the shortbread lightly with a fork and bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and very lightly browned. Leave to cool in the tin.
• To make the caramel, place 100g butter or margarine, 100g light muscovado sugar and the can of condensed milk in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Continually stir with a spatula to make sure no sugar sticks to the bottom of the pan. (This can leave brown specks in the caramel but won't affect the flavour.)
• Turn up the heat to medium high, stirring all the time, and bring to the boil, then lower the heat back to low and stirring continuously, for about 5-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly. Pour over the shortbread and leave to cool.
• For the topping, melt 200g plain or milk chocolate slowly in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Pour over the cold caramel and leave to set. Cut into squares or bars with a hot knife.

RICH CARAMEL SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Grease and line the base of a 23cm/9inch shallow cake tin.
• Place the butter, flour and sugar in a food processor and process until they begin to bind together. Press the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 mins, or until golden.
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Place the butter, sugar, golden syrup and condensed milk in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and simmer for 6-8mins, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes very thick. Remove the shortbread base form the oven, pour over the filling and chill in the fridge until firm.
• To make the topping, melt the chocolate in the in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat, leave to cool slightly, and then spread over the caramel. Chill in the fridge until set. Cut into 12 pieces with a sharp knife and serve.

CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Tip the sugar into a heavy-based frying pan, stir in 4 tbsp water, then place over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bubble for 4-5 mins until you have caramel. Take off the heat, then carefully stir in the cream and butter. Leave the sauce to cool, then tip into a squeezy bottle.
• Tip the sugar into a heavy-based frying pan, stir in 4 tbsp water, then place over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bubble for 4-5 mins until you have caramel. Take off the heat, then carefully stir in the cream and butter. Leave the sauce to cool, then tip into a squeezy bottle.

CARAMEL SLICE

Steps:

• For Base - Preheat oven to 180C/160Cfan forced/350°F.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Press firmly into a tray (I use one 27cm x 18cm - approximately 10 1/2" x 7") .
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes (should have a slight golden colour and still soft to the touch).
• Let cool while making filling.
• Filling - Put all ingredients into a small saucepan and cook over low heat till butter melted and well combined and takes on a golden colour (about 3 to 5 minutes).
• Pour over biscuit base and return to the oven for about 10 minutes.
• Let cool completely before cutting.